Emerging England excite Moores

Peter Moores takes heart from England's battling displays

Peter Moores believes England’s stunning comeback in the second npower Test against New Zealand is a sure sign of a side developing into one capable of challenging the world’s best.

Three times in the last four Tests, the England coach has watched his side emerge victorious from positions where New Zealand were favourites to triumph.

At Wellington and Napier they fought back strongly to record back-to-back victories and clinch the series and, facing a 179-run first-innings deficit at Old Trafford this week, they managed to pull off a remarkable six-wicket triumph.

Those victories have convinced Moores that, despite England’s failure to post a first-innings total in excess of 400 for 11 Tests, they are moving in the right direction.

“I think the side’s developing at the moment and we’ve made no bones about that,” said Moores.

“The fact that we’ve won this Test is fantastic; the fact we’ve won three Tests out of the last four is great with a developing team.

“The team has changed a lot and is developing and it’s finding itself. To win along the way creates a bit of space, but the sign of an emerging, good team is when you win games you shouldn’t win and when you win games scrappily.

“We’ve done that, not just here but also in New Zealand when we had to scrap very hard.

Moores paid tribute to England's record run-chase at Old Trafford, led by centurion Andrew Strauss

“In Wellington, (Paul) Collingwood and (Tim) Ambrose had a big partnership from a tough position and in Napier we lost wickets earlier and (Kevin) Pietersen got a score to put us in a good position, so this side is showing good traits.”

England’s achievement in chasing down a victory target of 294 at Old Trafford – the highest successful fourth-innings run-chase in a Test at the ground – served as a major confidence boost ahead of the final Test at Trent Bridge, which starts next Thursday.

The selectors meet later this week to discuss the Test squad, with Moores reticent to make changes at the top of the order despite their not firing as a unit.

“We’re working hard on the batting to get it better,” revealed Moores.

“I think chasing down that total at Old Trafford is a great testament to the batters and they should be given credit for that because that was a really tough wicket to bat on.

“They’ve had some tough times as well and we’re trying to get more runs in the first innings and we’re working hard at that.

“We’ve got some tough challenges ahead with a further Test against New Zealand and then a tough series against South Africa, so we know we’re going to have to play well.”

All of England’s players from the second Test will be rested for county duties this week with Moores keen to ensure they remain fit for Trent Bridge and the one-day series which follows.